Our focus was on the beautiful trails, rather than the views, although the views were excellent. (See photo.) We didn’t explore the lava beds (having seen many of those elsewhere) but the number of shady trails, lacking in crowds, was a welcome relief from some of the other places we visited on this trip. We saw only 3 or 4 groups with guides, but mostly saw the occasional people who just like to exercise by hiking in a beautiful place with 8 different trails. If you want to pack a lunch, there are picnic tables near the intersection of Trails 8, 6, and Parqueo 2.

Went first thing in the morning so beat the crowds and the heat. Fantastic hike through natural rainforest. Great volcano views. Did the longest route #3. Totally worth it. Some steep stairs throughout so beware for those who are a little less mobile. Great value for the $US10 entry fee.

This is the hike to do if you want to experience Arenal volcano. El Silencio was not crowded and also the cheapest one ($10 entrance fee) compared to the other parks. The lady at the counter recommended and showed us the route to take (route 3). The trails were clear but the trail signs were not, especially the way to the first viewpoint (tip: take the trail on the right). We were lucky the day we did the hike the weather was great. The views of Arenal from the viewpoints were fantastic. The hike was generally moderate in difficulty but it was challenging on the 1968 Lava Trail. However, it was worth the effort.

This was a great place to hike to experience the rainforest and lava rocks. I enjoyed a nice, quiet solo hike on the trails. It wasn't crowded at all, went through some beautiful rainforest, then up to some of the lava rocks from the 1968 eruption. It was pretty cloudy the day I visited and the volcano was shrouded in the clouds. But on a clear day, I'm sure there are some excellent views. I saw lizards, ants, monkeys, and birds. Trail markings were a little confusing (some places marked as exit, when actually a continuation of the longer trail). For $10, it was definitely worth it. I highly recommend.

Excellent trails and views. Plenty of hills but well worth the effort. Very good entrance fee of approx $10. Saw lots of birds including parrots 🦜. Well worth it and good parking.

We had a really great time in both the rain forest and the volcano lava fields. Our tour guide Isaac was EXCEPTIONAL even relating his personal stories and life to the volcano. We felt like we were in good hands the entire time. Thank you Isaac for a great experience! We would recommend both Isaac and this tour to anyone that wants to spend a few hours learning about wildlife and the history of Arenal.

It's more often that the view is obscured by the clouds. If you are lucky to hit a clear day, take it in and cherish it for those who didn't. Even with out the volcano view we enjoyed the forest and its beauty. Was a lot of rain on the day we went so animal activity was minimal. We could hear the howler monkeys at least! We did many of the trails over 4 hrs. Hope to be back on a clear day.

Trail #6 was well worth the hike up to see the volcano. It was very cloudy on our visit but well worth it! We also hiked trails #1, 3 &4. We did not spot any animals on those trails just some very busy working ants!

We did both the Arenal Volcano National Park hikes and these ones and we preferred Mirador El Silencio. The trail up from Reception was more jungle-y and trails 5 and in particular 6 were more challenging and more of a work out. We took trail #3 (El Tabacon) from the lower parking lot. Then trail #5 (Mirador Lago Arenal) and finished off with #6 (Lava del 68) and #7 (Lago Verde). We took the road back for a total of 5k. The only confusing part was where trails 1,3 and 4 meet up with 5. To take #5, take the trail on the right going up that is marked Exit. There is a cable railing to help you on the tricky parts of the trails. You get good views of the volcano (I think you get closer than the park). They give you a map of the trails. Another plus is the entrance fee is less than the park ($10 US). You need running shoes especially for trail #6. We did not see any wildlife except for a train of industrious ants. We did hear some howler monkeys. If you have little ones, stick to the Arenal Volcano National Park.

Loved our hike at Mirador El Silencio. We took the outer loop, which offered a variety of conditions… shady forest, sunny stretches, rolling hills and very steep steps. This hike is rigorous in spots, and I was grateful the trail was dry! Take lots of water, you’ll need it! Enjoyed some beautiful views, and met lots of friendly cows, but sadly, no wildlife. Despite the map, we still took one wrong turn. Fortunately, another group had a guide, and he got us going in the right direction. Would be so easy to improve the trail signage… Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a challenging hike at the Arenal volcano, Mirador el Silencio is a great option!